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When griping grief the heart doth wound,
and doleful dumps the mind opresses,
then music, with her silver sound,
with speedy help doth lend redress.
-William Shakespeare
Beneath that Smile
I received a copy of 'Beneath That Smile' from Robin a few days ago. It's a magazine meant to accompany the launch of The Da Vinci Code movie. It's a really good magazine because it just counters whatever that is claimed in the novel. It's titled 'Beneath That Smile' because of the famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. The Mona Lisa was supposedly a self-portrait of Da Vinci painted as a female. Apparently, Da Vinci was trying to tell us something with her enigmatic smile. Well, could be a smirk too that he knew a secret.
We all know how much the movie, and the novel itself, will affect the Christian world one way or another. In Singapore alone, 3 million more copies of The Da Vinci Code novel will be published because of the movie.
In case people are wondering what the Da Vinci Code is about, it's a novel written by Dan Brown. In it, he claims that the famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci supposedly left clues in his paintings, that Jesus Christ was romantically linked to Mary Magdalene. Not only was Jesus married, but He was a father. The Da Vinci Code also characterizes the New Testament Gospels as mere "fabrications" and casts doubts on the deity of Christ.
People around the world, including Christians, will definitely be swayed and thrown into confusion by the amount of facts and evidence that's in the book. Problem is that, those supposedly truths and facts were being manipulated. There's a "FACT" page in the book that supports the claims in the novel and that every word is of historical fact, such as the marriage of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. It is indeed a "FACT" page. It clearly states that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork and architecture in the novel all exist. However, the "FACT" page makes no statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional characters. Intepreting those ideas is left to the reader, Dan Brown. There's a reason why in Borders, you can only find The Da Vinci Code under the FICTION section. Dan Brown himself admitted that the Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore is a work of fiction.
So which to believe ?! The Holy Bible or The Da Vinci Code ? Put The Bible alongside the novel, it wins hands down. Talk about best sellers, The Bible is the best-selling book in the history of Mankind, whereras the novel was the best-selling book in 2003-2005. The Bible to date, has 2.5 billion copies sold. The Da Vinci Code, 36 million copies.
The Bible wasn't written by 1 man alone. It was written by more than 40 different authors, and across a period of 1,600 years. Yet amidst the diversity of authorship, there emerged a single unified story - the salvation plan of God for a sinful humanity. Only God could have pulled it off. Try getting 10 different carpenters to design a part of a table each. Can you imagine how impossible it would be ? The legs of the table would not be of the same length, and the drawer wouldn't fit.
It only matters on how we look at it. I believe that the novel and movie isn't here to destroy our faith. Instead, it's here to strengthen our faith. It's a time for God to truly test our faith in Him. How are we going to react when people are going to come up to us and question us if we still think Jesus is Lord ?
"My hope for The Da Vinci Code was, in addition to entertaining people, that it might serve as an open door for readers to begin their own explorations and rekindle their interest in topics of faith"
- Dan Brown
I believe God can use this opportunity to turn the tables around. Exactly what Dan Brown had said, it will surely stir up curiosity and interest in the people around the world. They will want to know more. They will want to know who exactly Jesus is. It will be a chance for us to find out how much we've grown in the Lord, to speak with His wisdom and words. It will be a chance for us to show them the Truth, to share with them who Jesus was and is, to sow the seeds in them. Instead of us going out looking for men to share the Word with, they will now come to us wanting us to share with them !! That's God's grace.
My King will reign in the end.
signing off at 11:53 AM
Vision
There was something that happened over last week. Small as it may seem, it's really significant to me.
Last week on 12 Jan, Thursday night, as I was lying in bed ready to sleep, I suddenly thought of Robin, my Discipleship Group Leader. I really didn't know why then. Out of the blue, I had this very very clear vision of him in my head. I didn't know why, but suddenly I vividly recalled that he was having tests. And somehow, I remembered that one of those tests fell on 13 Jan, Friday. A few weeks back he asked for our MST dates so that he could pray for our tests, and in turn I asked for his too. However, I accidentally erased the SMS so I had nothing to remind me of his test dates. Yet, I was brought to consciousness of his test, just before I slept, on the night just before his test. (Actually it was already past 12 a.m, so it was on the morning of his test) So I got up to pray for him, constantly asking God to grant him strength and wisdom.
Today, we had our first Discipleship Group after a long layoff from the e-Learning week, holidays and MST week. So we started sharing how we've been.
Then Robin gave thanksgiving. He shared with us, that there was this night where he was studying for his test. It didn't go well as he got stuck at almost every question he attempted. It was a math test he was having the next day. Because of this, he got very panicky. He didn't know how he was going to get through his test the next day. The next day came. His test was in the afternoon and had lectures from the morning til then. Worried about his test, he didn't pay attention during his lectures, and constantly attempted those math questions. To his surprise and relieve, he was able to complete and understand most of them. He did those questions without getting stuck. And when his test came, it went rather smoothly for him, and he's confident of getting high grades for it.
I asked him which night was it.
And he said Thursday night, 12 Jan.
Isn't it amazing how God works ? I told Robin about how I got a vision of him that night, and how I felt this voice telling me to pray for his test. He smiled, and we both agreed on one thing, that it was God who put Robin into my head, so that I would pray for him, to ensure he gets through that tough period. It really is amazing, how I was all so ready to fall into deep sleep, when I got this sudden vision that Robin needs prayer for his test.
But I tell you what's most amazing, is that God actually used me to do His work. No amount of words can describe that feeling. Of all, He chose me. It may be something really really small and trivial, but the fact that the Mighty Creator of the Universe called upon a sinner like me to help a precious child of His. I'm really really not worthy. And the fact that God used the most amazing ways to talk to me, vision and voice, is definitely of divine calling. I think it's the very first time such a thing has ever happened to me. I definitely do not want it to be the last. May God continue to use me, not because I'll be able to boast about it, but because I'll be a humble servant for Him.
Robin challenged me to become a Discipleship Group Leader myself when I'm promoted to Year 2. I'd really love that but it would come with a big responsibility. But nothing beats building up the lives of juniors and seeing them grow. I've been doing that since Secondary school, but now, let me do it for God.
Win. Build. Send.
signing off at 11:41 PM
Shepherd of My Heart
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he stores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and staff they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23
signing off at 12:12 AM
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